Neutron Activation Analysis

Introduction

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) is one of the most sensitive analytical techniques used for the quantitative multi-element analysis of major, minor, and trace elements in samples from almost every conceivable field of scientific or technical interest. The technique of INAA measures the total amount of an element present in sample matrices without regard to chemical or physical form and without any pre-treatment of the sample. For certain elements, INAA offers sensitivities that are superior to those possible by other techniques; on the order of parts per billion or better. In addition to the elemental and isotopic analysis of samples, INAA permits the analysis of non-radioactive tracers introduced into biological, chemical, and/or industrial processes for process identification and optimization.

Applications of INAA

Samples analyzed via INAA at NC State typically fall into one of the four general categories listed below. For informational purposes, sample plots including detection limit (MDL) data have been attached for select elements in certain sample matrices.

Neutron Irradiation & Activation:

Fig #1 – Neutron activation process

The NAA laboratory at North Carolina State University utilizes the 1-MW PULSTAR Nuclear Reactor facility as an intense neutron source for the irradiation of client samples. During neutron irradiation, certain stable isotopes of elements that constitute the samples are transformed into radioactive isotopes by neutron capture (see Fig #1 above).